Thanks CITYBEAT for the great write-up on this wonderful beer series we worked on with #KingStudios and @Listermann

What’s a big-time Cincinnati happening without a beer in its honor? Listermann Brewing Co. reveals a special brew on Sept. 1 in honor of September's King Records Month and to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the iconic Evanston record label — whose historic building is located just down the street from the brewery.

The beer, named "The King of Them All," is a tribute to King alumni, including label founder Syd Nathan. The beer will be on tap at the brewery for all of September and will also be available in a collectible four pack with can art featuring Nathan; Henry Glover, one of the industry's first African-American executives; Seymour Stein, founder of Sire Records (who discovered The Ramones, Talking Heads, Pretenders and more) and protege of Nathan; and Little Willie John, a King R&B recording artist. Local design/print studio We Have Become Vikings designed the cans.

The beer is a New England-style IPA "accessible to all types of beer drinkers, with very little bitterness and highlighting flavors that are reminiscent of the orchard; citrus, strawberries, mangoes, pears, apples, and light florals," says a Listermann release.

The release launches at 10 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 1) at the taproom at 1621 Dana Ave., Evanston. Ten percent of beer proceeds will go to benefit King Studios and its preservation efforts.

As for King, Nathan put his plan to launch a record label into action in September of 1943, enlisting Country music entertainers Grandpa Jones and Merle Travis to record the first music for the venture, which Nathan dubbed “King Records.” To mark the beginning of what would become one of the most crucial record labels in the history of music, Cincinnati has been celebrating King Records Month in September for the past several years.

In honor of the 75th anniversary of those first King sessions, this year’s celebration is too big to contain in just one month, getting an early start this week and with exhibits and other events extending through the end of 2018.